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theguardian.com
The world is heading toward a financial crisis – the state of US politics has left us ill-prepared
Trump’s second term has revealed that Washington’s policy response to such a crisis will be misguided and full of chaosA bona fide financial crisis has not broken out since the US housing meltdown of 2007. Even the Covid pandemic and subsequent upsurge in inflation didn’t lead to financial upheaval. The jitters produced by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 were soon forgotten.Given this stability, it might take some effort to convince financial markets that another big one is around the corner. But it is. Financial markets and their regulating governments may believe they have acquired immunity, but the world is careening toward a moment of financial upheaval that could well dwarf the damage caused by the last one. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Metro Bank investors urged to reject executive pay report
Bonus scheme that could hand CEO a £60m windfall is ‘significantly out of line’ with market, says proxy adviserInvestors in Metro Bank are being urged to vote against the lender’s pay report next month, in protest of a complex bonus scheme that shareholder advisers say is “significantly out of line” with market standards.Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), which issues voting advice to some of the world’s biggest investors, made the recommendation weeks ahead of the bank’s annual meeting on 2 June. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Oil prices slide on hopes of US-Iran peace deal
Trump said on Saturday that an agreement would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, without giving further details.
cnbc.com
Singapore reports lower-than-expected inflation for April at 1.8%, revises economic growth higher
Core inflation — which strips out prices of private transport and accommodation — came in at 1.4%, against estimates of 1.7%.
theguardian.com
Focus on jobs, not benefits, to cut welfare bill, says thinktank
Hitting government’s target of getting 80% of workers into jobs would reduce cost of universal credit by £10bnTackling the root causes of joblessness, instead of cutting benefits, is the best way to get the welfare bill down, and polling shows voters support that approach, according to research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.In a forthcoming report, JRF economists show that hitting the government’s target of getting 80% of the working age population into jobs would cut the cost of universal credit by £10bn – an eighth of the current bill. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Japan’s Nikkei 225 tops 65,000 for first time as oil falls on Hormuz reopening hopes
Japan’s Nikkei 225 breached 65,000 for the first time Monday as a sharp decline in oil prices lifted risk sentiment in holiday-thinned trading.
cnbc.com
Beware the boom and bust cycle of memory stocks, investors warn amid AI boom
"In the long run, it's a pretty dreadful industry," William de Gale of BlueBox Asset Management, told CNBC's Europe Early Edition on Wednesday.
cnbc.com
AI wealth must benefit the public, South Korea's deputy PM says amid Samsung labor tensions
South Korea's deputy PM tells CNBC there are concerns as to whether AI could worsen wealth gaps or lead to job losses.
cnbc.com
Delivery Hero shares rise 10% as rival Uber mulls another takeover bid
Delivery Hero confirmed in a statement on Saturday that it had received a takeover offer from Uber of €33 per share.
cnbc.com
Iran is in the 'process of blinking' over the Strait of Hormuz, Petraeus says
Ex-CIA director David Petraeus said that an initial successful peace deal with Tehran would see the Strait opened without any conditions.
cnbc.com
Huawei plans new smartphone chips this fall as rivalry with Nvidia and Apple heats up
Chinese telecom giant Huawei announced Monday a new way of designing chips that improves their capabilities, despite U.S. restrictions on the company.
cnbc.com
Oil market at 'tank bottoms' in Asia, and Europe isn't far behind, warns market veteran Jeff Currie
Oil markets are nearing minimum operating levels in Asia, with Europe likely next and the U.S. potentially facing shortages by July, said Carlyle's Jeff Currie.
theguardian.com
A year after nationalisation, is South Western Railway delivering?
Rail minister Peter Hendy says fast rollout shows reforms are working as questions over reliability remainSouth Western Railway’s newest train, wrapped in union jack-inspired Great British Railways livery, may divide opinion on aesthetics, but the interior is certainly an upgrade: air-conditioned carriages, more space and greater passenger capacity.For ministers, the fact that it is the 45th Arterio model brought into service since the SWR network was nationalised is vindication of the GBR approach. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ministers urged to act as households in Great Britain face energy bill ‘anxiety’
Under government’s price cap typical gas and electricity bills are forecast to rise by £209 from this summerMinisters face growing calls to cut utility bills as millions of households in Great Britain face energy cost “anxiety,” with gas and electricity costs forecast to rise to almost £1,900 from this summer.The typical dual-fuel bill is expected to climb by nearly 13% under the government’s energy price cap, adding £209 a year to household costs, in a blow to families already hit by rising prices for essentials. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
HMRC made us wait a year for £150,000 tax rebate
The tax office is quick to demand money owed and threatens fines, but is slow when giving refundsWhen my mother died, there was a four-year delay in achieving probate owing to financial complexities. During this time my father paid inheritance tax (IHT) on the advice of his solicitor, to prevent interest accruing.It turned out that the solicitor’s estimate of the amount was wildly out. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I don't think I'll ever be able to retire'
People in their 70s say they cannot afford to quit their jobs, but others say work keeps them young.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trump keeps the world guessing with mixed messaging on Iran deal
While he says that Washington will not rush into a deal, energy stockpiles risk hitting the red zone this summer.
bbc.com
How Saudi Arabia's spending spree reached the end of the line
MBS's Vison 2030 project seemed the stuff of science fiction. Now reality has bitten
bbc.com
'I live in survival mode': The rise of the multi-job workforce
More people are taking second jobs as rising costs and insecure work reshape how we earn a living.
bbc.com
Beer boom goes flat as breweries call last orders
The UK's brewery scene is shrinking as pubs close, costs rise and drinking habits change.
theguardian.com
K-pop androids and automated artists: welcome to South Korea’s strange and ambitious robot theme park
Galaxy Robot Park in South Korea hopes to attract tourists to concerts and fashion shows, but can robots ever replicate K-pop’s connection with fans?Four child-sized humanoid robots take the stage at an arena in eastern Seoul, and as the opening beats of a song by K-pop star G-Dragon begin, they start to dance.Arms swinging, legs stepping in sync, heads bobbing, wigs and baggy clothes swishing, until – mid-performance – one of them seemingly malfunctions and has to be removed from the stage. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Morocco wants tourists to visit Western Sahara. Some say it's tightening its control
The Moroccan government wants more Western holidaymakers to visit the territory it claims to own.
bbc.com
Indian billionaires buy foreign companies as growth slows at home
India Inc spent $18bn on global buyouts in 2025 and the deal value could cross $15bn in the first half of 2026.
theguardian.com
Scotland’s ‘green datacentres’ policy ignores emissions impact of AI, analysis shows
Definition of green facilities made in 2022, before release of ChatGPT, says Action to Protect Rural ScotlandA Scottish government policy designed to encourage datacentres to build in Scotland could lead to a massive volume of carbon emissions being ignored, according to an analysis by a Scottish charity.“Green datacentres” are at the heart of Scotland’s ambitions to develop economically. Enshrined in national policy, they are part of a larger, UK-wide effort to attract big AI investment to Scotland. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK universities warn of cuts for impoverished students if dire funding issues continue
Nearly a third of vice-chancellors would cut hardship support if necessary over next three years, according to pollVice-chancellors have said they may need to cut hardship support for impoverished students and reduce outreach activities aimed at disadvantaged groups if the dire funding struggles at universities continue.The anonymous poll of leaders by Universities UK (UUK) revealed the extent of the budgetary quagmire facing higher education, with more than two-thirds prepared to cut staff jobs by compulsory redundancy if difficulties continue over the next three years, while nearly 90% said they were looking at hiring freezes or voluntary redundancies. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Labour to expand youth work experience and training schemes
Announcement comes after former minister Alan Milburn says Britain has neglected a generation of young peopleMinisters are expanding youth work-experience and training schemes, after Alan Milburn warned Britain is spending £25 keeping young people on benefits for every £1 spent helping them into work.Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, will announce plans for 300,000 extra work experience placements over the next three years as the government attempts to tackle what the minister described as a “quiet crisis” in youth employment. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Space rockets, satellites, data centers and Grok: What's the right S&P sector index for SpaceX?
What S&P Sector is SpaceX likely to be in once it launches on the public markets.
cnbc.com
Trump not rushing Iran deal, whacks critics as 'losers'
The president said the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in effect until "an agreement is reached, certified, and signed."
theguardian.com
Trump says he does not make bad deals, but even Republican hawks doubt that now
The US has apparently had to agree to unfreeze billions of Iranian assets for a regime more hardline than before the warOn 24 May each year, Iranians celebrate a historic victory in the war with Iraq: the liberation of Khorramshahr in 1982.This year, some were hoping a peace deal looking likely to be signed with the US might mark a similar turning point in their country’s history. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bridget Phillipson orders review of hidden childcare charges hitting parents
Education secretary asks UK watchdog to look into nursery practices, including non-refundable deposits and add-onsBridget Phillipson, the education secretary, is ordering a competition review of hidden childcare charges amid concerns parents are being hit with extra charges, despite the government’s expansion of funded childcare hours.Phillipson has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) asking it to examine practices including nonrefundable deposits and compulsory add-ons. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'The Mandalorian and Grogu' is Disney's lowest-ever Star Wars film opening
Disney's "The Mandalorian and Grogu" tallied and estimated $82 million in domestic ticket sales through its first three days in theaters.
theguardian.com
Amtrak is smashing ridership records. Is it ready to handle the World Cup?
The United States’ rail system has a dedicated customer base, but remains a niche option for most this summerSebastian Caillat didn’t know how fascinating the dental industry could be until he sat next to a dentist on an Amtrak ride from college in New York City to his childhood home in Washington DC in 2023. They spent the ride discussing the dentist’s efforts to self-fund his own practice. Caillat was surprised to learn the extraordinary cost of dental technology equipment – but also how interesting a conversation about dental technology equipment could be.In Caillat’s view, that conversation represented the magic of Amtrak trains, a mode of transport that he says encourages social interaction. He also saw this dynamic play out last summer, when he rode from New York City to Philadelphia for a Club World Cup match between Palmeiras and Botafogo. Fans of the Brazilian clubs engulfed a train that traveled through New York City and New Jersey, an area home to more than 70,000 Brazilians. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Farage under mounting pressure to prove Russian hack claim
Reform UK leader claims ‘counter-espionage experts’ suggest state-sponsored hackers are behind disclosure of £5m giftNigel Farage is under mounting pressure to provide evidence for his claim that a state-sponsored Russian hack was behind the disclosure of the £5m gift he received from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.Reform UK claimed over the weekend that analysis of Farage’s phone by “counter-espionage experts” suggested that “Farage’s phone, email and bank accounts were compromised by hostile actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, using spear phishing tactics”, before the Guardian revealed details of his undeclared gift last month. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s taking all of our money’: truck drivers in Iowa lament gas price surge sparked by Trump’s Iran war
As the summer season warms up, long-haul truck drivers lament their bills and vendors worry about raising pricesThe self-proclaimed largest truck stop in the world offers drivers just about everything they might need during a break. The Iowa 80 parking lots offer 900 spots for trucks and dozens more for passenger cars, while the varieties of snacks, drinks and souvenirs in the market are uncountable. Elsewhere on the premises is a dentist, a barber and a chiropractor, a weight room, a 24-hour diner and a movie theater. There is also a Truckomat, to wash your truck, and a Dogomat, to wash your dog.But the one thing that Iowa 80 does not offer is relief from the price of gas, which has increased sharply ever since the US joined Israel in attacking Iran and sparking a global energy crisis. On a recent afternoon, a gallon of regular gasoline at the sprawling stop in eastern Iowa went for $4.26, and diesel $5.72. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
David Miliband: Europe and US need ‘separate bedrooms’ but not divorce
Former Labour minister says complete disengagement has potential ‘for us to end up in a very, very difficult position’David Miliband has said Europe should have “separate bedrooms” from the US, but not seek a “divorce” from its traditional alliance, despite the Trump administration’s impact on the relationship.The former Labour foreign secretary, who has served as the president of the International Rescue Committee since 2013, said at the Hay literary festival on Sunday: “You can see the argument that strategic autonomy for Europe means divorce from the United States. I really counsel the dangers of that. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Barriers grow for international students seeking U.S. jobs: The 'American dream ... is collapsing'
International graduates say a weak hiring market and changing immigration rules make it harder for them to achieve their American dream of working in the U.S.
theguardian.com
At least £325bn of ‘dirty money’ flows through UK each year, says report
Call for crackdown as finance linked to corruption, tax evasion and money laundering is estimated at 10% of GDPAt least £325bn worth of dirty money is flowing through the UK every year, according to research that is causing concern about funding for state investigators and the government’s push into crypto assets.The figure is equivalent to more than 10% of UK GDP and includes illicit funds linked to financial crime, money laundering, corruption, illegal trade and tax dodging, according to the report by the Finance Innovation Lab charity. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
I’ve worked with over 1,000 kids—the ones with the best people skills use these 6 phrases
"Strong people skills are not the same as people-pleasing," says child life specialist and therapist Kelsey Mora, who's supported thousands of kids and families.
cnbc.com
The Middle East war is testing the Gulf's ambitions to become an AI hub
Attacks on data centers in the Middle East and persistently high energy prices have altered the calculus for operators of the facilities, analysts say.
theguardian.com
Alcohol charities warn 99p Buzzballz shot ‘designed to appeal to children’
Cheap ready-to-drink cocktail criticised as appealing to children while ‘hiding behind a thin “nostalgia” label’Alcohol charities have criticised a new 99p shot from the company behind BuzzBallz, warning its cheap price and heavy marketing are designed “to appeal to children”.BuzzBallz, the brightly coloured ready-to-drink cocktails sold in spherical containers, have become popular with younger drinkers and on social media in recent years, particularly on TikTok where users post tasting videos and cocktail hacks featuring the brand. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The devil owns Amazon: big tech has infiltrated the fashion world – will we see a revolt?
Anna Wintour has welcomed the Bezoses – and their patronage – with open arms. But after a controversial Met Gala, industry insiders are less enthusiasticThe press conference for the Met Costume Institute’s spring exhibition is always a stately affair, but this year it was giving “feudal lady addresses her serfs” or perhaps “Marie Antoinette during the last days of Versailles”. Here, among the spectacular marble sculptures of the art museum’s American wing, was a beaming Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who Anna Wintour introduced as a “force for joy”, before adding that “she and her husband, Jeff, have shown with this event that they genuinely, genuinely care about giving back”. Meanwhile, in the outside world, protests against the Bezoses’ involvement had been raging for days. The discrepancy between the word on the street and the deference within the glass-ceilinged room was head-spinning.The Met Gala has recently become a magnet for anti-excess protests, but this was its most controversial yet, owing to the $10m patronage of its honorary co-chairs, centibillionaires Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. It was not the first time Jeff Bezos bankrolled the gala – Amazon was its lead sponsor in 2012. But this year’s event came at a moment of soaring inequality, as Bezos’s personal wealth has mushroomed and his Donald Trump-appeasing decisions have made him less popular than ever with New York City’s left-leaning fashion and arts crowd. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
With oil markets nearing the danger zone, a US-Iran deal can’t come soon enough | Heather Stewart
Global prices are approaching a tipping point that could trigger inflation, shortages and, over time, recessionIf a US-Iran deal is about to be reached, three months on from the launch of Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury, it will not be a day too soon for oil markets, which are approaching a dangerous tipping point.The cost of a barrel of crude on the spot market – for immediate purchase, effectively – has bounced about $100 since Iran predictably responded to the onslaught from the US and Israel by closing the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Nationwide pressed to address ‘emerging governance issues’ as AGM looms
Labour MP writes to chair amid concerns building societies are overusing quick votes and failing to add members to boardsNationwide is under pressure to address “emerging governance issues” across the building society sector, amid concerns bosses are bundling voting options and failing to allocate board seats for members.The Stockport Labour MP Navendu Mishra has sent a formal letter to the chair of Nationwide, Kevin Parry, outlining growing unease over the way executives, including at Nationwide, have been engaging with members who ultimately own their building societies. A letter raising similar concerns was sent to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in recent weeks. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Shameful' more spent on benefits than jobs for young people, says Milburn
Reforms are needed of the welfare system to tackle the high numbers of young people not in work or education, says Alan Milburn.
theguardian.com
UK supply chain unprepared for major shocks such as war, report warns
Research by National Preparedness Commission calls for ‘worst-case scenario’ planning by European statesBritain’s vital supply chains are unprepared for the prospect of a major shock such as war with Russia, and bold steps are needed to catch up with “worst-case scenario” planning by European states, ministers have been warned.Donald Trump’s “America First” transformation of the US, which has made what was once a trusted UK ally a much less reliable partner, should also feed into that planning, according to a new report. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How an Essex valley became one of the UK’s most exciting new wine regions
English wine grown in Crouch Valley is fast becoming globally renowned – even the French are taking noticeIt was a Thursday afternoon spent basking in the sunshine, strolling through rolling hills and expansive plains laced with fruit-bearing vines. Surely I must have been dispatched to Tuscany or Bordeaux but no, this was the scene a mere 20-minute drive from Chelmsford, Essex.While the unassuming city might be better know as the stomping ground for the cast of The Only Way is Essex, with ITV cameras a frequent sight, the surrounding area could soon have another claim to fame as an emerging capital of English wine, which is on the up. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I avoid AI tools because thinking is supposed to be hard. It’s what makes us human | Wendy Liu
As intelligence itself becomes privatised by big tech, allowing your intellectual faculties to wither in service of inane bots seems a dangerous moveLong before the age of multi-billion-dollar AI companies promising to disrupt the field of software development, I was learning to code the hard way.It was the mid-2000s, and I was a child with unmonitored access to the family computer. With the help of a basic text editor program, I learned how to make websites – first basic, then increasingly complex – from scratch. The results were never as beautiful or polished as in my imagination, but I could live with that, because I was learning a craft. The painstaking hours of debugging and poring over arcane documentation for projects that I eventually abandoned never felt wasted.Wendy Liu is a writer based in San Francisco and the author of Abolish Silicon Valley Continue reading...
bbc.com
City's living costs drive workers to food banks
It is so expensive to live in Cambridge a charity says people with jobs need subsidised food.
theguardian.com
£600 for cheese? The Brazilian beach scams that cost visitors dear
Travellers warned to beware of debit card cons after one was charged £1,500 for a kebab and another £3,000 for corn on the cobWhen Lisa Selby* used her debit card to pay for two slices of barbecued cheese from a beach vendor in Rio de Janeiro, she expected to pay 40 reais (£5.90) for the snack.But shortly after the payment had gone through, she realised that she had been charged 4,000 reais (£590) after the vendor added two extra zeros to the card reader. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tour groups, temporary routes and toilets: the reshaping of Rome – photo essay
Photographer Lorenzo Grifantini looks at how the Italian capital’s historic centre has gradually reorganised itself around the uninterrupted flow of visitors and the expectations projected on to itBy mid-morning, the area around the Trevi fountain is already difficult to cross. Visitors stop suddenly to take photographs while tour groups gather behind raised umbrellas, and security staff redirect the flow of people through temporary barriers placed around the monument. Nearby, souvenir kiosks sell rosaries, plastic gladiator helmets, bottled water and magnets in the summer heat.Tourists pose for photographs in front of the Trevi fountain Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Squeals of horror over price caps – but how are we going to fix our broken food system?
Global events and the climate crisis have left Britain’s food system dangerously exposed and in desperate need of an overhaulThe news that the Treasury was asking UK supermarkets to cap price rises on essential foods was greeted with predictable squeals of horror this week. Supermarkets were reportedly “furious”, while luminaries from the former head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies to the former chair of M&S could be found harrumphing about the evils of price controls.But this caterwauling is a distraction from two unpleasant facts. Firstly, the food price surge over the summer and beyond is likely to be significant – and will come on top of a near-40% rise in the price of food since 2020 – due to a devastating combination of the Iran war and a forecast record-breaking El Niño, which will hammer global food production. And secondly, Britain’s food system is painfully exposed to such shocks. The long-held assumption that a global food system can be relied on to meet the nation’s needs, at a reasonable price, no longer applies. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We’re expanding the cinematic toolbox’: AI fault lines on show at Cannes
Darren Aronofsky among proponents of using technology, while Guillermo del Toro says he would ‘rather die’Under a white marquee on Cannes’ Croisette beach, with the Mediterranean glistening behind him and superyachts drifting across the horizon, the director Darren Aronofsky addressed an audience of executives and tech evangelists gathered for an “AI for Talent” summit.“There’s so much pushback against AI,” said Aronofsky, who has faced criticism over his embrace of generative AI projects though his new studio, Primordial Soup, at a time when artificial intelligence has become one of the film industry’s most divisive fault lines. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Six eggs used to be £1' - why everyday essentials cost so much more now
Six supermarket brand eggs cost £1 in 2022. How much are they now, why have they gone up, and is anyone profiteering?
theguardian.com
How big tech got its way on Trump’s AI executive order
The US president’s reversal on calling for a safety review of new AI models is a green light for tech’s unchecked powerOnly hours before Donald Trump was set to sign a long-awaited executive order on Thursday that would have called for a government safety review of new artificial intelligence models before their release, the president abruptly backed out. Despite growing public backlash to the technology and experts warning new models will pose critical security risks, Trump vowed the US government would not slow down the AI race.During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Trump cited both American dominance and competition with China and as his reasoning behind the reversal. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Move over matcha lattes: horchata is cold, creamy and coming to a menu near you
The sweet drink is a staple in Spain and Mexico, and it’s being served around the UK as an iced beverage and even in desserts. Here’s how to drink itHaving lived through the “matcha revolution”, I’ve become used to giving unfamiliar drinks a go. From bubble tea to pumpkin-spiced lattes, coffee tonic to ube frappes, I’ll try anything twice and – compared to those beverages – horchata feels like a more palatable prospect. The refreshing yet creamy cold drink from Spain and Mexico is often compared to cereal milk, which has also gained popularity as a flavour in its own right and is increasingly cropping up on menus elsewhere.Last month, Starbucks announced that, in the US, an iced horchata shaken espresso would be returning to its summer menu (this year joined by a new horchata frappuccino), having outperformed all previous seasonal iced shaken espresso beverages by an impressive 44%. In the UK, where horchata is less commonplace, I started spotting “dirty” versions, with added espresso, on coffee shop menus, alongside “dirty chai”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is Cornwall’s newest high street an inspiring model, or a threat to nearby Newquay?
Some locals fear Nansledan, touted as a blueprint for community-focused retail, is draining life from the town next doorA buzzard soars above wildflower meadows glinting with buttercups, as a giant construction vehicle whirs across a concrete pad where a new Tesco and a market hall are under construction.The development could be seen as a vote of confidence in a great British tradition. The Prince of Wales this week cured his hangover after Aston Villa’s Europa League win by checking out building work on what could be the UK’s newest high street, in Nansledan, Cornwall. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
‘Blue dot fever’? What's really behind a tricky summer dynamic for live music
As prices rise everywhere, consumers are choosing to be more intentional with how they're spending on live music and concerts this year.
cnbc.com
Three signs from APEC that the U.S. and China remain far apart on trade
U.S. and Chinese officials have met and spoken publicly about differing priorities since the Trump-Xi summit concluded in Beijing last week.
theguardian.com
Even if the Iran war ended today, US fuel prices aren’t likely to normalize this year
Prewar US gas prices averaged about $3 a gallon nationally – kiss that number goodbye for 2026Sorry, US drivers, but don’t expect pump prices to return to prewar levels any time soon, even if the US and Iran agree to a lasting peace deal tomorrow.As the war with Iran enters its third month, drivers have become infuriated by rising gas prices – and inflation – and Donald Trump is facing a historic backlash in the polls. The president promised recently that relief will be swift once the war ends. “I see it going down very substantially when this is over, I think very rapidly too, at levels that you’ve never seen,” he said. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Temperatures are rising - and so are ice cream prices
Temperatures are rising across the country, and so is the price of ice cream - but by how much?
theguardian.com
SpaceX rocket bursts into flames during Indian Ocean landing – video
SpaceX launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet on a test flight on Friday. It was an upgraded version of the spacecraft Nasa is counting on to land astronauts on the moon. It blasted off from the southern tip of Texas, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites that were released midway through the hour-long flight that stretched halfway around the world. Despite some engine trouble, the spacecraft reached its final destination in the Indian Ocean where it erupted into flames on impact. The fire was not unexpected, according to SpaceXSpaceX launches its biggest rocket yet in test flight from Texas Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Liana Finck on shrinkflation coming for public transport – cartoon
Continue reading...
bbc.com
The Leeds designer outlet that's 15 miles from Leeds
A rebrand of the junction 32 retail park off the M62 has gone down poorly with some locals in Castleford.
theguardian.com
Final frontier for meds? UK startup sends drug-making into space
BioOrbit hopes drug-crystallisation technology will lead to self-injected cancer treatment that could save millionsOnboard a SpaceX flight last week was a remarkable piece of cargo – a hi-tech box destined for the International Space Station to grow ultra-pure protein crystals, with the aim of producing self-injected cancer drugs.A British startup, BioOrbit, has developed the drug-crystallisation technology at its labs in London and launched Box-E, a compact unit the size of a microwave, on the 15 May rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘There is no great master plan’: anxiety as UK homes, roads and railways sink into the sea
Increasing coastal erosion has hit communities’ livelihoods and put lifestyles under threatThe remains of the road linking two towns in south Devon lie crumbled on the foreshore in a mess of tarmac, steel and concrete.The dramatic coastal road, known as the Slapton Line, has an environmentally protected freshwater lake on one side and the sea on the other, and links the towns of Kingsbridge and Dartmouth. But this year, winter storms demolished a section of the A road between Torcross and Slapton, which is at the frontline of rising sea levels and coastal erosion, fulfilling a destiny that was predicted more than 30 years ago, but that has not been prepared for. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Tracker mortgages are back’ – but is one the right choice for you?
The uncertain interest rate outlook is making tracker deals popular again. We look at the pros and cons of both types of loanWith some experts warning that we may have to brace ourselves for interest rate rises later this year, it might seem odd to suggest considering a tracker mortgage.But, amid the economic chaos caused by the Iran war, for some people looking for a home loan or to remortgage, a tracker – where the rate you pay moves up or down in line with the Bank of England base rate – could be a good bet. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The pothole puzzle: the bumpy ride to fixing Britain’s broken roads
Councils fix a pothole every 17 seconds – but getting on top of the repair backlog would cost £18.6bn. Why is it so hard to solve a problem that drives the nation crazy?Marsh Street in the historic centre of Bristol is a modest little stretch of road with an office block at one end, a Thai restaurant at the other, and an almighty mess in between.Along its length of 200 metres or so, the tarmac surface of the road is pockmarked with many dozens of cracks, patches, divots and holes. In some spots where the surface has worn away, three or more layers of road structure are exposed beneath. What is a bouncy enough ride in a bus or car is even more of an assault course for cyclists, a number of whom weave carefully down its length as they cut through the city centre. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
French stars are rightly worried by billionaire Vincent Bolloré. Here’s how to rein him in
The conservative tycoon’s grip on media and cinema is unhealthy. An EU fund could protect democracy in perpetuityThe shadow of Joseph McCarthy’s “red scare” loomed over the storied steps of this year’s Cannes film festival. Echoing the mid-20th-century blacklist, which shut out about 300 suspected communists from Hollywood, the French media group Canal+ announced an effective ban on twice that many French cinema professionals, including actors such as Juliette Binoche and film directors such as Jean-Pascal Zadi and Arthur Harari. Their crime? An open letter denouncing the growing influence on French media and cinema of conservative tycoon Vincent Bolloré, Canal+’s main shareholder.The Canal+ chief executive, Maxime Saada, justified punishing the signatories on the basis that their claim was an “injustice” against the staff of Canal+ – who were, he said, committed to the organisation’s independence. Continue reading...
bbc.com
SpaceX launches massive Starship V3 rocket on test flight
The largest and most powerful rocket in history blasted off after its first attempted launch was postponed.
cnbc.com
SpaceX launches Starship test flight on second try
SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket on Friday, a day after the company scrubbed plans before takeoff.
cnbc.com
Disney's 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu' tallies lowest Thursday preview sales in franchise history
Disney's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" tallied $12 million in Thursday night previews, the lowest collection of advance tickets in franchise history.
cnbc.com
Tulsi Gabbard resigning as Trump's intelligence chief
Gabbard said she is leaving her post to support her husband, who is battling a rare form of bone cancer.
bbc.com
UK sees hottest day of year as bank holiday travellers face queues
Temperatures hit 28.4C in parts of England on Friday, while delays have been reported at the Port of Dover and Birmingham Airport ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
bbc.com
AI may speed up search for drugs to treat brain conditions
Researchers hope the work will help identify affordable, effective drugs to treat conditions like MND.
cnbc.com
Trump skipping wedding of son Donald Jr. to Bettina Anderson
Donald Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he has five children. She disclosed this week that she has breast cancer.
cnbc.com
Home Depot comps finally catch Lowe's, opening the door for the stock to do the same
It took nearly a year. But it finally happened this quarter.
cnbc.com
Oil prices post weekly loss as U.S. and Iran signal progress toward a deal
The U.S. and Iran have signaled progress in talks to end the war, but the warring sides remain at loggerheads over key issues.
bbc.com
Bank boss sorry after describing workers as 'lower value human capital'
The Standard Chartered boss said he values all colleagues and is committed to helping them cope with change.
cnbc.com
Kevin Warsh's real Fed 'regime change' may happen deep inside Wall Street's plumbing
Warsh could guide to a smaller role in day-to-day markets, while also setting clearer rules for how and when it should intervene.
bbc.com
Trump wants new Fed chair to be 'totally independent'
The US president piled major pressure on Kevin Warsh's predecessor to cut interest rates.
bbc.com
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
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U.S., Iran signal peace progress — but remain at odds over enriched uranium, Strait of Hormuz tolls
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said there were "good signs" that an agreement to end the Middle East conflict is in sight.
bbc.com
Morrisons planning to close 100 stores in next few months
It said difficulties had been exacerbated by "significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices".
cnbc.com
Donald Trump Jr.-backed 'Steroid Olympics' are happening on Sunday. Here's what to expect
Olympic medallists are among 42 athletes competing in the controversial competition, but the Enhanced Games has big product plans beyond the event this weekend.
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NATO will spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defense, says Rutte, as Trump pledges 5,000 American troops to top spender Poland
"I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland," Trump said on Truth Social on Thursday.
bbc.com
Stop blaming young people for being unemployed, says Amazon's UK boss
John Boumphrey says the education system "isn't necessarily producing young people who are ready for work".
bbc.com
Why thousands of stock trades tied to Trump are raising eyebrows
The BBC's Michelle Fleury looks at trades disclosed by the president.
bbc.com
Could your weekly food shop get cheaper?
The government says shoppers across the UK could save as much as £150 million a year on food - but how much is that per household?
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Crypto bros, scalpers and Logan Paul: Inside the world of Pokémon where cards are sold for millions
A Pokémon card boom is being driven by nostalgia, blockbuster card sales and speculation.
bbc.com
Laura Pomfret - CCJs, decrees and unpaid court debts
Laura Pomfret - CCJs, decrees and unpaid court debts
bbc.com
Jailed tycoon's Birkin bags sell for over half a million dollars
The luxury handbags sold in a government auction in Ho Chi Minh.
theguardian.com
Trump’s new ‘slush fund’ for his pals – podcast
This week, Donald Trump dropped a personal $10bn lawsuit he had against the Internal Revenue Service in exchange for a so-called anti-weaponisation fund. The $1.8bn fund will be used to compensate those who think they have been unfairly investigated by the government in the past.This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to the legal analyst Kristy Greenberg about why critics are calling this fund ‘corruption on steroids’Archive: AP Continue reading...
cnbc.com
An AI trade involving energy and infrastructure that's doubled your money, topping Nvidia
If you put the same money into a basket of companies that are building out AI infrastructure and energy sources, you’ve done much better than stocks like Nvidia.
cnbc.com
How Fanatics cornered the sports collectibles market
As FIFA's exclusive collectibles licensee, Fanatics is set to tap a rapidly growing market in the world's largest sport, but longstanding criticisms follow.
bbc.com
Love factually: Dating start-ups promise to cut the cheats
Frustration with fake dating profiles has spurred new dating services with different approaches.
bbc.com
The fight against foreign developers buying Caribbean beaches
Campaigners in Barbuda, Grenada and Jamaica say they can no longer access their coastlines.
bbc.com
Robo-top: The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
bbc.com
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
The internet giant dwarfs other online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.
bbc.com
Rise in solar panel sales as people 'want to save money'
One director, who has just bought 2,000 panels, hopes to safeguard the company's future bills.
bbc.com
Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.
bbc.com
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
bbc.com
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
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